Let God Write Your Love Story

We’ve all heard it. “Let God write your love story.”  And it is a very true statement.  But sometimes I think we forget HOW true.

When we hear that statement, we usually think of God leading us to a person who we get to know, fall in love with, and marry in a Godly fashion.  But it does not stop there.  It goes much further.  Once you are married, you still must let God write your love story by following your husband and living a Godly life in your marriage and as the woman of the house.  When we surrender to God’s commands in the Bible, that is when He is continuing to write our love story.  And when we look at the list, it might not look romantic at first.

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 This means that, as ladies, we must respect and listen to (obey) our husbands.

• It means we must continue to walk in purity.
•  It means we must love our husbands with all our heart – putting only God ahead of him..
•  It means we must train up our children to do what is right in the sight of God.
•  It means that we must not be idle, but instead must employ our hands to do profitable things.
•  …and there are many other things, as well.

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But it is when we follow Him in these commands that our marriage blossoms and it is so beautiful.  It is romantic, because you have a healthy relationship with your best friend, your husband – while following God wholeheartedly.  And once you have accomplished that…you can have a very happy, peaceful, romantic marriage.  

 So next time you hear “Let God write your love story” I hope you aspire to really let Him have control.  But aspire to let Him have control your entire life – even after you are married.  Before you are married is wonderful…but after that wedding ceremony is even better! 

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When the Waiting Ends

When the Waiting Ends

If you have been in a group of Christian girls, you may have heard the concept of “True Love Waits.”  Many girls dedicate themselves, not only to staying physically pure before their wedding night, but also to wait and pray that the Lord would pick their husband and write for them a marvelous love story.

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 What does a God written love story look like? There is an over abundance of stories that portray two people who were willing to earnestly give this part of their lives unto the Lord, and of how He proved Himself faithful - giving them a true, pure love story that they could have never imagined on their own.  And the best part?  By these couples who were willing to lay this most precious part of their lives down at His feet, it brought an abundance of glory and honor to Jesus Christ, our Savior.  
I myself have come from a large group of girls who desired such a God-written love story.  Each of us were firmly determined that no matter what the case, or how long the wait, we would let our Savior and King rule over this precious part of our lives.
 
But for many, the wait was to long…

Since that time in my mid-to-late teens, I have watched as many of these girls became discouraged and slowly veered away from letting Jesus be the Lord over this area of their lives.  I do not scorn these girls or mean to judge or disgrace them in any way.  Waiting and trusting, when it seems as though all other friends are getting married, is very difficult, and it is even more difficult when a certain man has caught a girl’s special attention.

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From my own experience, the hardest part of the waiting process has come when a man expressed an interest, or, at least, showed an interest in me.  And yet… that still small voice in my heart would say, “Not yet,” or “Not this one.”  Oh how easy it would have been for me to push that tiny voice aside!  It was such a faint whisper, I could have proceeded but I still would have heard, “Not yet, he’s not the one.”  Oh to know what it’s like to have a boyfriend!  To have someone with whom I could share mutual affections with! How wonderful that must be!  Yes, I can see quite clearly just how easy it would be to ignore that small inner warning and to say “Yes,” to someone I wanted.
 
So why wait? Our culture tells us to try our relationships in all aspects and that multiple boyfriends is a good thing.  But it doesn’t take a very in-depth look to see that this simply is not a good approach.  It may be fun at the time, but the shattered hearts and broken lives that such relationships leave behind is sickening.  But what other choice is there?  How can a girl find a husband without dating?! Pray, and listen for that still small voice - it is far more trustworthy than fickle feelings and emotions. 

I have observed many girls who have chosen not to listen to that still, small voice and who have instead chosen to be led by their own deceitful hearts instead of by the strength of the Lord.  Many are driven by loneliness, which is something that I too have struggled deeply with, but as much as girls would like to believe that a boyfriend or marriage would fix that, it’s simply not the case.

I have closely observed the relationships of those girls who gave it all to the Lord and of those who gave up the fight and decided to follow their own emotions.  The difference is these two groups of girls and their relationships is astounding.  The girls who have whole-heartedly given their love stories to the Lord are eventually blessed with a relationship that is joyfully accepted by friends and family, and that draws each of the them closer to the Lord. 

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As for the girls that have given up waiting, there is often talk by friends or family who disapprove or feel un-easy about the relationship.  Such relationships tend to be self-focused, lustful, hasty and rash, and more than anything else - blind to all of those things!  This type of relationship is where the term “Love is blind,” comes from, for the two people involved have become blind and often refuse to even acknowledge the wise counsel of those around them.  Such people begin to surround themselves with un-Godly friends who support their relationship instead of the strong Godly influences that they had once respected.
 
The difference in the married life in these two different groups is also astonishing.  The marriages of those who before marriage gave their emotions and desires to the Lord, vs. those who were driven by their emotions and desires throughout their relationship are nearly opposite.  No marriage is perfect - but I am inspired the most by those who chose to wait and pray!


Being as I am in my early 20’s, I freely admit that often times it is hard to wait any longer!  And yet, the older I get, the more girls I see fall away from waiting on the Lord, choosing a different path and I have also clearly seen where it leads. 

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I have seen the results of the choices that were made by those around me, and with each I will only pray more that the Lord would give me strength to wait for His best.  Even when that means turning away from someone to whom my heart, emotions and desires say “Yes!” to, but for whom that still small voice says, “Not yet, he’s not the one.”
 
I will choose to listen to the One who knows what is best for my life and trust that He will make all things clear to me in His perfect timing.
I still chose to wait.  I have written this with many prayers that it will help those singles who read it to be encouraged to do the same.


Will you wait with me?

Essential Wedding Day Tips - The How & Why You Should Start Preparations Now

Essential Wedding Day Tips

“The How & Why You Should Start Your Preparations Now”

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          What girl doesn’t like to prepare, or at least dream about her wedding day?  That day, like no other, when she will be united as one with the man of her dreams!  Girls from a very young age dream and plan, and dream again, and change their plans, and then change their plans again.  Everything MUST be perfect! The ceremony, the decorations, the cake, the location, the bridal party, and most importantly - the dress! (Actually, the most important thing is finding the perfect photographer - but I get to say that because I AM a photographer!)  By the time her wedding finally arrives, a girl may have spent 10-20 years or more preparing for it in her mind! It’s a massive accomplishment.

I too, love to dream about, plan, and prepare for my wedding someday!  In fact, I have found several ways to work on my wedding right now, even though there is no special man in my life and may not be for many years.  Despite that, I am working right now on my ceremony, decorations, the cake, and even my dress!  By the time the right man finally comes into my life, I won’t have to deal with all the same stress that normal brides struggle through.  I will be all ready!  Let me share with you the secrets I’ve found to being able to prepare so early.  It’s never too early to start, in fact, the sooner the better!

Let’s begin with the decorations!  For my wedding, I plan to have a very large candle light ceremony, and so of course that means that I need lots of candles!  Unfortunately, I have been collecting these candles for as long as I can remember.   I say it’s unfortunate because I never wanted to end up with so many of them, for these candles are quite different from the ones that you may be thinking of.  The candles that I plan to burn during my wedding ceremony are made of selfishness, anger, bitterness, self righteousness, pride, impatience, idleness, and outbursts of wrath.  I work daily to burn up these candles, but I will still have more than enough to use at my wedding.  The flame lit to dissolve these candles will burn by the power of self control and diligence, and the sweet aroma flowing from the melted candles will be mercy and forgiveness.  

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Let’s move on to the cake!  Not many people can say that they have been preparing the cake for years before their wedding!  Never failing faith, abundant grace, and  unconditional love will make up the three flavors of the cake and it will be lavishly frosted with joy and grace.  These are the free, sweet gifts that I would like to offer to each guest that attends my wedding ceremony.

While the cake is being prepared, I also need to collect more contentment, hope, and faithfulness, for these are the flowers that will make up the bouquet that I will carry down the aisle.  
My shoes are being custom made with strength and sparkling with truth and nobility. 
My sash will be finely woven over many years of unwavering faith and joy.

It’s time for my dress!  Made of purest white, I have been working hard to sew this dress for many years.  The fabric is made of the softest purity, and sewn with threads of patience.  There have been many times when I was sure that I had completely ruined the dress as I brushed it up against something dirty or spilled something on the pure fabric.  I have cried many times over this dress because even the smallest spot shows plainly on the white fabric and cannot be hidden.  There are many people who wish to touch my dress and hold it, leaving more stains upon the fabric.  I do my very best to protect my dress from those who would harm it, but I’ve found that I cannot do it alone.  I always seem to get frustrated by the process and I continually run out of thread, but then I remember that all I need do is humbly ask, and my loving Heavenly Father will bring me more thread, help me protect my dress from those who would harm it, and wipe away the stains that have been made.  Without this continual help, my dress would certainly be a dirty black mess by the time that my wedding day arrives. 

Resting gently on the top of my head will be a crown that I have earned through storms of tears, pain, and heartache that I have faced.  Tiny diamonds will represent perseverance and humbleness that I have learned during the most difficult times and will be jewels that will serve me well throughout the rest of my life. With every move I make, my crown will sparkle with praise for my Heavenly Father, because without Him, I would have never had the strength to gain such a crown.

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The rings that will grace the hand of myself and my groom will be far more costly than mere gold, which is only pavement on the streets of Heaven.  Our rings will be carefully made of unconditional, never failing, ever faithful love, and will sparkle with diamonds of life-long commitment.


Aside from all the other gifts that I plan to give to my groom upon our wedding day, I will also add unconditional respect, understanding, and unwavering support.

Flowing freely above the ceremony will be a banner of the glory of the Lord and will display His marvelous power and might.

I am planning a wedding more extravagant and more costly than the most expensive wedding that has ever taken place.  The cost my wedding will be everything I have, everything that I am, and everything that I will ever be.  It will require all of me, and I can withhold nothing.  

Weddings typically are exceedingly expensive, and for the richest of people who have extravagant weddings, the cost can easily reach into the millions.  All that money spent on a wedding that only lasts a day, and a marriage that may not last at all.

 The wedding that I am working toward does not last just a day, but will last for a lifetime and may be passed on to strangers as well as future generations.  The decorations that I am working so hard for will not simply vanish when the wedding day is over, but they will grace my home and touch the lives of everyone around me.  Many things can be purchased with worldly wealth, but the treasure that I seek is worth far more than silver or gold.  The wealth of this kind of wedding is the only kind of wealth that, when given freely to others, will make the giver more wealthy. 

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My wedding preparations are far from done but I continue to work quickly and diligently because I do not know when my groom is going to appear!  But then, what if there is no earthy groom for me?  Do I labor for a wedding that will never be?  

If there is no groom for me here on this earth, my wedding preparations will not be wasted in the least.  I still will have a groom and whether I have an earthy groom or not, these preparations are first and foremost for my preparation as the bride of Christ, and I plan to be ready when He comes.  

Of course I would like to get married someday, but when I think of this short life in comparison my eternal home as the bride of Christ, I will be glad to make these wedding preparations my whole life long and have Him as my one and only groom if that is His will for my life.  And so while I wait, I plan to gather as many flowers of contentment as I can and continue to sew with threads of patience, both of which I need much of!

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My dear readers, as your sister in Christ, I humbly urge you not to spend your time preparing or even dreaming about your physical wedding until the time of your engagement (or shortly before).   Most of the girls that I know collect pictures, make plans, and pin ideas for their weddings on social networking sites such as Pinterest, Facebook, and online web albums.  This may seem harmless but indeed it is not, for over time, discontentment over your singleness will slowly creep in and may cause you to enter a relationship that is not a part of the great plans that the Lord has for your life.  I have seen this very thing happen to many girls who had at one time committed this area of their lives to God, but became weary and discontent over time. 

If you happen to run across a picture or idea that you really may like for your earthy wedding someday, then by all means save it in a special file for the time that you may need it, but do not continue to dwell on it.  Discontentment is a deadly poison and it is encouraged by romanticizing, early wedding planning, and many other such things. 


Will you join with me in planning a wedding like mine?  If you do, then you will become a bride that is worth more than the most precious rubies.

The Week Before the Wedding

The Week Before the Wedding

By Lisa, May 23, 2011

So, it is the week before my wedding and you can imagine the craziness ensuing before this big event! Something I have to keep reminding myself to stop and breathe…that everything is going to be okay…that this is for the biggest event in my life; that it’s fun…and worth every single moment.

A while ago I wrote about enjoying everything you do.  Sure – there have been

Wedding Flowers

Wedding Flowers!

Posted by Lisa on March 27th, 2011

Well, to clarify the last post of "Pre-Wedding Bloopers!" posted by Missy last week -- I do want to say that Missy does now have the pattern (I think -- perhaps she can tell us if she has opened it yet!) so hopefully she can begin work on her dress!  :) 

However, on an entirely different topic, I have greatly enjoyed working with arranging the wedding flowers!  As I mentioned in my first wedding post, "Make it, Do it, Enjoy it," I am doing my own flowers and many of them are silk.  The only ones which are not done, actually, are the real flowers which my bridesmaids and I will be carrying.  However, I worked with one of my closest friends who spent two nights with me last week and we successfully arranged all of the silk flowers which needed arranging! 

Sorry for a rather messy picture, but this is a real,
down-to-earth picture of what actually happened! :)

So what do you need to have in order to arrange your flowers?

Pre-Wedding Bloopers

Pre-Wedding Bloopers!

Posted by Missy on March 18th, 2011

Every bride goes through wedding bloopers!  It's a part of the package! So instead of letting these bloopers stress you out even more - take a deep breath and have a good laugh!  I'm not a bride but I've been having fun laughing with Lisa over her wedding bloopers.  A really funny one was discovered today!

Lisa had sent me the pattern and fabric for my bridesmaid dress.  Everything looked to be in order

Make it, Do it, Enjoy it

Make it, Do it, Enjoy it

Posted by Lisa, February 28, 2011

I’ve watched many brides do their own weddings, each struggling to stay on budget.  It would be difficult indeed if you bought everything, catered everything, and needed everything to be just the style and fashion of the world at that moment.  But what’s the fun in that?

Walking into a bridal store, you can “oooooh” and “ahhhhh” of the pretty gowns and shake your heads over the ugly and immodest ones.  But take a look at the price tag; you probably are thinking more of the word “ouch” at that moment.  The same can go for wedding cakes.  Wedding cakes are a centerpiece at the reception, and you want it to look nice.  However, between the wedding dress and the wedding cakes, most brides spend a minimum of $3,000!  A minimum.  And $3,000 is higher than my entire budget for my wedding!

So how do we get around this typical American fashion of spending money for everything you need and don’t need?  There are three words to explain this: